Re: Vietnamese duo caught pickpocketing
Theft by Sleight of Hand
Since July this year, Police have received several reports of theft involving similar modus operandi committed by culprits who are believed to be foreigners of Middle Eastern descent. Most of the cases occurred in merchandise stores or F&B outlets located within shopping malls. So far, cases have been reported in Orchard Road, Temasek Boulevard, North Bridge Road, Cairnhill Road, Raffles Boulevard, Harbourfront Walk, Victoria Street, and Syed Alwi Road.
Modus Operandi
The culprits are known to operate in groups of twos or threes and would typically approach the victim – in most cases the cashier – on the pretext of either changing cash; making a small purchase; or requesting to view the variety of Singapore cash denominations in the cash register. While conversing with the victim, one of the culprits would take a stack of notes either from the victims’ hands or directly from the cash register and pretend to count them or browse through them out of interest. The culprits are known to make various excuses to get hold of the money, such as feigning displeasure at the cashier's slow speed, claiming that the change amount was wrong, etc. Meanwhile, the other culprit(s) would distract the victim by making other enquiries, so that the their accomplice would be able to siphon off some of the cash which he/she managed to get hold of. The stack of notes would be returned to the victim thereafter without him/her realising that some of the money had been stolen until it was too late.
Thus far, the culprits have managed to successfully steal cash amounting to about $6,300.
Appeal for Information
It is believed that there may be more than one group of culprits involved in these cases. Police are looking for the 2 groups of people shown in the following pictures to assist with investigations into the cases.
<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2">Group 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
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</td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> In the first group, the first man was often seen wearing short sleeved t-shirts with Bermudas. He is described as having fair complexion, well-built, about 1.75 meters tall and has short black hair with long sideburns. The second man is described as having fair complexion, about 1.8 meters tall and spotting short black hair. The woman is described as having fair complexion, about 1.6 meters tall and spotting shoulder length light brown hair. All three are in their mid-30s and are believed to be foreigners.
<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2">Group 2 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
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</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
In the second group, the woman is described as having fair complexion, and was last seen wearing a dress. The first man has fair complexion, has black wavy hair and is slim in built. He was last seen wearing a white short sleeve shirt and a pair of sunglasses. The second man has short black hair, is slightly plump in built, and was last week wearing a dark coloured polo t-shirt with dark pants.
Anyone with information on the said persons is requested to call the Police Hotline at 1800-2550000. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
Crime Prevention Advisory
Police strongly encourage retailers and cashiers to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
19 August 2009 @ 5.00 pm
Theft by Sleight of Hand
Since July this year, Police have received several reports of theft involving similar modus operandi committed by culprits who are believed to be foreigners of Middle Eastern descent. Most of the cases occurred in merchandise stores or F&B outlets located within shopping malls. So far, cases have been reported in Orchard Road, Temasek Boulevard, North Bridge Road, Cairnhill Road, Raffles Boulevard, Harbourfront Walk, Victoria Street, and Syed Alwi Road.
Modus Operandi
The culprits are known to operate in groups of twos or threes and would typically approach the victim – in most cases the cashier – on the pretext of either changing cash; making a small purchase; or requesting to view the variety of Singapore cash denominations in the cash register. While conversing with the victim, one of the culprits would take a stack of notes either from the victims’ hands or directly from the cash register and pretend to count them or browse through them out of interest. The culprits are known to make various excuses to get hold of the money, such as feigning displeasure at the cashier's slow speed, claiming that the change amount was wrong, etc. Meanwhile, the other culprit(s) would distract the victim by making other enquiries, so that the their accomplice would be able to siphon off some of the cash which he/she managed to get hold of. The stack of notes would be returned to the victim thereafter without him/her realising that some of the money had been stolen until it was too late.
Thus far, the culprits have managed to successfully steal cash amounting to about $6,300.
Appeal for Information
It is believed that there may be more than one group of culprits involved in these cases. Police are looking for the 2 groups of people shown in the following pictures to assist with investigations into the cases.
<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2">Group 1 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2">Group 2 </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
In the second group, the woman is described as having fair complexion, and was last seen wearing a dress. The first man has fair complexion, has black wavy hair and is slim in built. He was last seen wearing a white short sleeve shirt and a pair of sunglasses. The second man has short black hair, is slightly plump in built, and was last week wearing a dark coloured polo t-shirt with dark pants.
Anyone with information on the said persons is requested to call the Police Hotline at 1800-2550000. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
Crime Prevention Advisory
Police strongly encourage retailers and cashiers to adopt the following crime prevention measures:
a. Be wary of customers who cannot seem to make up their minds when paying, especially if large denomination notes are used to pay for a small value item or if asked to change large denomination notes into smaller denominations;
b. If the customer wants to return the cash after it has changed hands, the cashier should count the cash before returning notes of larger denominations to the customer. If available, a cashier's assistant should observe the transaction and take note of the customer’s description;
c. Cashiers should never allow customers to handle the cash in the cash register or handover stacks of notes for the customers to count;
d. Should a customer reach out and attempt to take some notes from the till on the pretext of helping the cashier to count, the cashier should close the till immediately;
e. If the customer makes an unreasonable claim that he has not received his money back and demands his change back, the cashier should alert the manager/security personnel immediately for verification;
f. During peak hours, cashier should decline requests for change of larger notes politely by citing the long queue as a reason. Do not attempt to show the customers that you are left with insufficient notes in the cash register as the culprit may take the opportunity to reach into the cash register;
g. Lastly, CCTVs should be strategically positioned to cover the cashier counter and allow the image of customers to be captured.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT SINGAPORE POLICE FORCEb. If the customer wants to return the cash after it has changed hands, the cashier should count the cash before returning notes of larger denominations to the customer. If available, a cashier's assistant should observe the transaction and take note of the customer’s description;
c. Cashiers should never allow customers to handle the cash in the cash register or handover stacks of notes for the customers to count;
d. Should a customer reach out and attempt to take some notes from the till on the pretext of helping the cashier to count, the cashier should close the till immediately;
e. If the customer makes an unreasonable claim that he has not received his money back and demands his change back, the cashier should alert the manager/security personnel immediately for verification;
f. During peak hours, cashier should decline requests for change of larger notes politely by citing the long queue as a reason. Do not attempt to show the customers that you are left with insufficient notes in the cash register as the culprit may take the opportunity to reach into the cash register;
g. Lastly, CCTVs should be strategically positioned to cover the cashier counter and allow the image of customers to be captured.
19 August 2009 @ 5.00 pm
